Method and apparatus for casting and handling ferro-manganese



Dec. 22, 1959 H. ROSS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND HANDLINGFERRO-MANGANESE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 INVENTOR HALDON ROSSDec. 22, 1959 2,917,798

H ROSS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND HANDLING FERRO-MANGANESE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1 957 INVENTOR HALDON ROSS ATTORNEY METHODAND APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND HANDLING FERRO-MANGANESE Haldon Ross,Rockwood, Tenn; Application December 2, 1957, Serial No. 700,193

2 Claims. c1. 22-200 This invention relates to the casting and handlingof ferro-rnanganese and, in particular, relates 'toa method of castingferro-manganese ingots and loading the ingots so cast on a transportingvehicle. i

The casting and handling of ferro-manganese has heretofore beenlaborious. Methods used in casting of-other type metals, such as, forexample, pig iron, steel, or lead, are not adaptable to ferro-manganesecasting procedures because molten ferro-manganese has a very hightemperature, about 2900 F., and because ferro-manganese cracks orpartially disintegrates in the cooling stage. Because of the peculiarcharacteristics of ferro-manganese, it has been common practice to castterm-manganese in a bed, and then break up the casting into small piecesand load the pieces into pans for subsequent transporting.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of, and apparatusfor, casting and loading ferro-manganese, which method and apparatuseliminate the need for breaking up a casting in order to transport it.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of, andapparatus for, casting and loading ferromanganese which reduce the costof equipment necessary method of, and apparatus for, casting and loadingferromanganese blocks, which method and apparatus provide for preparingthe surface of a vehicle on which the blocks are to be loaded.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of, andapparatus for, casting and loading ferromanganese blocks, which methodand apparatus provide for a convenient means to lift the ferro-manganeseblocks from the bed so that they may be loaded on a transportingvehicle.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will become apparentwhen the following description is considered in conjunction with theannexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a bed and transporting vehicle used forcasting and handling ferro-manganese in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a ferro-manganese block cast inaccordance with this invention and being handled as provided by thisinvention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a stool provided for handling theferro-manganese;

Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional as isshown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of a divider used in-a ferromanganese bed inaccordance with this invention;

view of a stool such ire Figure 7 is an end view of a divider such asisshowh in Figure 6; t

Fgure 8 is a side view of a fillet which may be used in aferro-manganese bed in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 9 is an end view of a fillet such asis shown in Figure 8.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of and apparatusfor casting and molding ferro manganese blocks, which niethod andapparatus provides for casting beds having dimensions suitable forcasting ferro manganese in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a bed area which may have anysuitable foundation, such as, for example, an excavated area in theground. The numeral 2 generally designates a singe bed within the bedarea 1. The bed comprises a plurality of side plates 3 joined end to endcontinuously so as to define a rectangular bed 2. Disposed within thebed are dividers 4, stools 5, and

As best shown in Figure 2, the floor of the bed com prises a layer ofsand 7 over which is disposed a layer of cast iron blocks 8.

The numeral 9 designates a trough through which molten ferro-manganeseis distributed to the bed area, and the numeral 10 designates a sidetrough, leading from the main trough 9. Through the trough 9 moltenferro-manganese is delivered to the bed 2. The numeral 11 designates atransporting vehicle which, as shown, is a flat top railroad car.

The dividers 4 are disposed in the bed 2 so as to divide it intosections 22, a fillet 6 is disposed at either end, and, as shown, twostools are disposed within each section.

Referring now more particularly to the components of the bed, it will benoted that the side plates 3 are, as shown, rectangular in form. Theyare made of any suitable material, such as heat-resistant steel. Itshould be understood, however, that the side plates may be of anysuitable shape without departing from the scope of the invention.

As best shown in Figure 6, the dividers have an elongated base portion13 and an upwardly extending shank portion 14. At the top of the shankportion 14 is an eye 15 which is. made, as shown, of a looped bar whichextends through shank portion 14 into base portion 15.

The components 13, 14 and 15 may be. joined in any suitable manner, suchas by welding or may be cast together. The base portion 13 of thedividers 4 is tapered to facilitate removal of blocks cast in the bed.By reference to Figure 2 it will be noted that the base portion 13 ofthe dividers is of less vertical heightthan the ver tical height of theside plates 3. This feature is significant in that it allows for flowwithin a given bed, from section to section. It should be understoodthat a divider, as referred to in this application, refers to anystructure which is used toseparate a casting bed into sections. The hook15, shown as connected with shank 14, facilitates move inent ofthedivider by a crane.

in accordance withthis invention to aid in of cast ingots on atransporting vehicle;

The fillets 6, as shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9, comprise atriangular base portion 20 into which are plates 3 optimum minimum..ured between the outermost extension of adjacent base .;side plates oftwo beds at the same time.

ofanysuitable material, such as heat-resistant steel.

\In carrying out the invention, a bed would be pro- .vided by firstdefining a bed area and then covering the surface of that area firstwith a layer of sand-tilt, such as thatdesignated by the numeral 7, andthen with a layer of cast iron blocks, such as those designated by thenumeral 8 in Figure l. The side plates, such as those designated by thenumeral 3, would be inserted so as to define a bed, and dividers 4 wouldbe placed so that the bed 2 defined by the side plates 3 would bedivided into sections. Fillets, such as those designated by the numeral6, would be inserted at each end of the bed.

Because of the temperatures which are encountered when casting ferromanganese, the sections 22 of a bed should have certain minimumdimensions. The depth of a section should be one foot or more, one foot,four inches being the optimum minimum. This depth is measured from thetop of blocks 8 to the top ofside plates 3. The width of the sectionbetween defining side should be five feet or more, six feet being theThe length of the section as measportions 13 should be five feet ormore; five feet, four inches being the optimum minimum. Although thedimensions of the sections have critical minimum dimensions, there is nomaximum limit, except that imposed by handling apparatus.

qT'he expose-d interior surfaces of the bed, that is, thse which willcome into contact with the molten ferromanganese fiowed into the bedthrough troughs 9 and 18, are coated withanaqueous mixture generallydesignated by the numeral 2-8. The mixture is preferably one consistingof water and lime or water and graphite.

Example .1

The beds were coated with a mixture of undissol-ved lime in a saturatedsolution of lime and water.

Example 2 The beds were coated with a mixture of undissolved.

of the bed.

After the coating has been applied, molten ferro-manganese isi'lowed'into the bed z'throu gh the troughs 9 and 10. Offcourse, thesection nearest trough 10 fills first, however, as soon as filled to thelevel of the baselS of the divider 4 separating that section from thenext, the

molten term-manganese spi ls over into the next section,

and the process continues until all beds are filled to the level of thebases 13 of the dividers .After the beds are filled, preferably to thislevel or slightly above it, the flow 'ofmoiten form-manganese to bed 2.is stopped. It shouid'be understood thatiseveral side-by-side beds maybe usedand filied simultaneously. :Qf course, this ailows the sideplates between any two .walls to serve as. defining After the beds-arefilled to" the desired level, the. metal is left to cool. This coolingperiod should'be. at least 4 one hour. During the cooling period, themetal will contract so as to draw away from the side plates and crackabove the dividers.

After the cooling period has terminated, a hoist may be attached to thestools and the cast blocks 23 of ferro-manganese lifted from thesections, as shown in Figure 3.

It is usually desirable to transport the cast blocks to a stockpile.This is .done by employing a transporting vehicle, such as thatgenerally designated by the numeral 11, the surface of which has beenprepared by covering the same with a layer of fire brick 26 on top ofwhich is placed a layer of sand 27.

When it is desired to use the blocks 23 cast according to thisinvention, they are transported to the desired point. The stools 5 areeasily removed from the blocks 23 because, as stated hereinabove, theferro-manganese contracts while cooling, and draws away from the stools.Of course, the shape of the stools is such that even after contraction,the stools may be used for lifting purposes,

i.e., they are provided with a tapering base comprising portions 16 and17 (Figure 5).

Havingthus set forth the invention, it is apparent that the objectsabove noted have been successfully achieved by this invention.Variousrnodifications of the invention .will become apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure. Therefore, itis intended that the matter contained in the foregoing description andthe accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative sense, andnot in a limiting sense, when consideration is given to the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A new and improved method of casting and handling;ferro-m anganese ina bed having connecting side .plates and containing stools, dividers,and fillets, said method including forming the bed with a flooringcovered wi th a layer of sand, covering the sand with metal blocks,

seperating said bed into sections of predetermined dimensions with saiddividers, placing at least one stool within each section, placingfillets at opposite ends of the bed to facilitate removal of a castingotfrom the bed, coating the internal exposed surfaces of thebed,treating the exposed surfaces of the stools and the exposed surfaces ofthe dividers with an aqueous mixture, flowing molten ferro-rnanganeseinto at least one of said sections, allowing the molten ferro-manganeseto spill over the other sections until the sections are filled to atleast a predetermined level and then allowing the molten metal to cool.

2. A new and improved method of casting and handling ferro manganese ascalled for in claim 1 in which the aqueous mixture comprises a mixtureof material selected from the'group consisting of a mixture of lime andwater and a mixture of graphite and water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

